Guinness, Boxty and the Ulster Fry

Many of the traditions of St. Patrick's day are actually based in North American celebrations, rather than traditional Irish customs, but solid-stick-to-your-ribs fare follows every celebrant on March 17th. With the Atkins diet popularity crash and the Phoenix-like rise of the potato as 'good eats', you can now celebrate St. Patrick's day with less guilt than any Irish Catholic would admit to...

Guinness has always been touted as one of the healthier beers, with antioxidant compounds and properties that help those affected by heart disease (in small quantities) the same way that low dose aspirin does. With this in mind, I would advise you to look into the following comfort food foray into 'just this once' Irish fare:

Boxty:
"Boxty on the griddle,
boxty in the pan,
if you can't make boxty,
you'll never get a man." - Irish verse

Boxty recipe:
1 1/2 cups raw potato
1 1/2 cups mashed potato
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Milk
1 egg
Salt and pepper

Grate
raw potato and mix with the cooked mashed potato. Add salt, pepper and
flour. Beat egg and add to mixture with milk to produce batter that
drops from a spoon. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a hot griddle or frying
pan. Cook over a moderate heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.

The Ulster Fry:
Serve Boxty with Fried sausage, Bacon, fried eggs, black pudding, and soda bread 'toasted' in the fry pan with everything else. (this is really good with corn bread).

*Blood pudding is traditional, but pretty heavy hitting... you might wanna try it without the first time. Just a thought.

eat hearty and Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! (ban-ock-tee na fay-lah paw-rig ur-iv)